Crochet or overseaming machine.



W. P. DRUMH'ELLER.

CROCHET OR. OVERSEAMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1912.

1 ,0573376, 4 Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

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IINITED STATES PATENT @FFIQF.

WILLIAM P. DRUMI-IELLER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB. TO THEWILLIAM CARTER 00., OF NEEDI-IAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIONOF MASSACHUSETTS.

CROCHET R OVERSEAMING MACHINE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

Original application filed December 22, 1911, Serial 1T0. 667,275.Divided and this application filed May 21, 1912. Serial No. 698,793.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. DRUM- HELLER,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springfield, in thecounty of I-Iampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement in Crochet or Overseaming Machines, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to crochet or overseaming machines and is adivision of my co-pending application No. 667,275, filed December 22,1911.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood,I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Figure 1 is an end elevation partially in section of acrochet or overseaming machine to which my invention may be applied;Fig. 2 is a view mainly in plan and partially in transverse section of aportion of the stitch forming and work feeding mechanism thereof; Fig. 3is a transverse sectional view of a needle guard to which my inventionis more particularly related, said section being taken upon the line 33of Fig. 6; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the needle guard shown in Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is an elevation of said needle guard; and Fig. 6 is an elevationthereof taken at right angles to Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view similar toFig. 4, but showing the crochet or knitting needle in its positionrelative to the needle guard.

The crochet or overseaming machine to which I have herein represented myinvention as applied is preferably of that gen eral type disclosed inthe patents to J. M. Merrow, No. 414,233, November 5, 1889, and No.428,508, May 20, 1890, to which reference may be had for a fullerdisclosure of certain of the parts and of the means for operating them.I have also represented my invention as applied to that type of suchmachine shown in the patent to William H. Carter, N0. 1,020,944 March19, 1912, although obviously it may be'embodied in other types of suchmachines.

The machine herein disclosed comprises stitch forming instrumentalitiesincluding a sewing needle and a movable stitch manipulating hook device,preferably in the form of a crochet hook or knitting needle withsuit-able means for operating said parts in coordination together with apresser foot normally positioned upon the work and preferably soconstructed as to be lifted from the work by the operative.

In accordance with my invention, I provide the machine with a needleguard preferably positioned below and close to the work and having apassage therethrough for the sewing needle. Needle guards haveheretofore been provided, but I have ascertained that the sewing needleis very frequently struck by the crochet hook or other threadmanipulating hook device, and is so deflected thereby that it does notpass through the needle passage of the guard. In order to prevent theneedle deflection by the said crochet hook or like device, I haveprovided the needle guard with an abutment extending substantially uponthat side of the needle that is the more remote from the hook when thelatter is in retracted position and have provided the said needle guardwith a needle guiding face leading to the needle passage of the guardand preferably inclined with respect thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the bed of the machine isindicated at 1, and the frame. or head at 2. Mounted in any suitablemanner upon the head 2 is a needle operating lever 8 to which motion isimparted from the main drive shaft in a manner not herein necessary todisclose. As herein shown, the said lever is connected by a link 4 to abracket 5 carrying the needle bar 6 mounted in suitable guide ways 6, 6in the head or frame 2 and to which the sewing needle 7 is securedin anysuitable manner so asto be vertically 'reciprocated. Also suitablyoperated fromthe main drive shaft and in coordination with. the sewingneedle 7 is a hook bar 8 carrying a crochet hook or knitting needle 9 ofusual type. In the usual manner, the said hook 9 is moved to and frofirst above andthen below the work to engage one of the threads, as morefully set forth in said patents.

Any suitable work feed may be employed. In Fig. 2, I have indicated at10 a work feeding device substantially similar to that shown in saidCarter patent. Adjacent thereto, I have provided a forming finger 11above and then below which the hook 9 passes in the loop and stitchforming operation.

Any suitable presser foot may be provided, that shown in the aboveentitled application being preferred.

The needle guarding device is indicated generally at 12 in Fig. 2 and isshown upon a larger scale in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive. The said needleguard is preferably removably attached in position in any suitablemanner, as by means of a bolt entering the bolt hole 13 and preferablythe said needle guarding device serves also as a crochet hook orknitting needle latch opener. The said guarding device is preferablyformed of steel or other suitable metal and is provided with alengthwise needle passage 14, which when the device is in position ashere represented extends vertically therethrough. At the entrance ofsaid needle passage, the device is of a forked formation, the twomembers or prolongations of which are indicated at 15 and 16 in Fig. 6.The portion 15 of said device is provided with an inner needle guidingface or surface 17 preferably downwardly and inwardly inclined tosubstantially the needle passage 14 as most clearly indicated in Figs.3, 4 and 6. With the parts positioned as herein represented, the saidinclined needle guiding face or surface is upon that side of the needleguard the more remote from the operative. The opposite formation orprolongation 16 extends beyond the formation 17 and to a greaterelevation when the device is in the position shown. The said formationis preferably provided upon its inner wall or face 18 with a groove 19forming a continuation of the wall of the needle passage 14. The mainportion of the inner face of said formation or prolongation 16preferably extends substantially 180 circumferentially of the needlepassage 14.

The purpose of the recess 19 is to guide or direct the sewing needletoward the inclined guiding face or surface 17, the latter being for thepurpose of directing the needle toward the needle passage 14, which ishere represented as about mid-way between the lateral faces 20, 21 ofthe device.

I have provided means to prevent the hook 9 from striking the sewingneedle 7 in the descent of the latter and deflecting it toward the face21 of the needle guarding device so far out of its true path that itwill not enter the needle passage 14. To this end, I have provided theneedle guarding device with an abutment or hook like formation 22extending, in the position of the parts shown, to that side of theneedle passage 14 and of the needle 7 that is the more -in its retractedposition.

remote from the hook 9 when thelatter is This abutment or hook-likeformation 22 forms in effect a prolongation of the needle guidingsurface of the extension or member 16 of the needle guarding surface.Preferably, it extends substantially as indicated, so that with thegroove 19 it extends materially more than 180 about the needle passage14. It extends sufiiciently far to prevent the sewing needle 7 ifdeflected by the hook 9 or otherwise from striking the extreme end ofthe said hook. Preferably the said hook or formation 22 does not extendwholly about the needle so as completely to encircle the same, as thiswould prevent the proper feeding ,of the thread with the needle 7.

It will be observed that when the device is in the position shown theextension or hook-like formation 22 overhangs the inclined needleguiding face 17. The said hook-like formation 22 so guides and directsthe sewing needle that even though it be struck by the hook 9, it cannotbe thereby deflected so as not to enter the space bet-ween the surfaces17 and 18, but will be directed thereinto.

Viewing the needle guarding device as represented inFig. 6, it will beapparent that the said device is composed of a body portion having alengthwise extending needle passage and that the body portion istransversely and downwardly grooved substantially axially of the needlepassage, one face of said groove being preferably inclined to provide aneedle guiding surface leading in the said needle passage and the otherface being preferably grooved as indicated at 19 and having preferablyat its top a hook like needle guiding extension22.

The inner face or wall 18 terminates at the inner edge of the needleguarding device in a latch opener formation 23 directed toward thecrochet hook or knitting needle and serving to open the latch thereof,as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus, the said wall or face 18 is provided attheinner edge with a latch opener format-ion 23 and at the opposite edgewith a hook formation 22. The vertical extent of the hook formation 22and the position thereof maybe varied within the scope of my invention,but preferably such hook formation isprovided at the upper face of thethread guiding device, and it is unnecessary to prolong the same morethan slightly below said upper face. The hook 22 formed as shown soguides and directs the needle 7 that with the cooperation of theinclined needle guiding face 17, the said needle is directed safely tothe needle passage 14.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims- 1. A needle guarding device for overseaming and like machineshaving a body provided with a needle passage substantially vertical whenin position, a needle guiding face inclined downwardly and leadingthereto, and a needle guarding portion extending from that side of theneedle passage opposite said guiding face and overhanging said inclinedface when the device is in position.

2. A combined needle guard and latch opener for overseaming and likemachines having a body provided with a needle passage, a needle guidingface at one side of said needle passage, and inclined clownwardly andleading thereto, and a needle guarding portion at the other side of saidneedle passage, having a latch opener formation at one edge and a needleguarding hook at the opposite edge.

3. A needle guarding device for overseaming and like machines having abody pr0- vided with a needle passage and two opposite, upwardprolongations, one having an inner guiding face downwardly inclined tosaid needle passage and the other having a groove forming a continuationof a wall of said needle passage, and a needle guiding hook at theentrance of said passage.

A. A needle guarding device for overseaming and like machines having abody provided with a needle passage and two opposite, upwardprolongations, one having an inner guiding face downwardly inclined tosaid needle passage and the other extending to a greater height than thefirst and having a needle guiding groove in alinement with said needlepassage and also having a hook forming a portion of the wall of saidgroove and overlying said guiding face when the device is in position.

5. A combined needle guard and latch opener for overseaming and likemachines having a body provided with a needle passage and two opposite,upward prolongations, one having an inner guiding face downwardlyinclined to said needle passage and the other extending to a greaterheight than the first and having a needle guiding groove forming acontinuation of a wall of said needle passage and having its upper faceterminating at one edge in a latch opener and at the opposite edge in ahook overhanging said inner guiding face when the device is in position.

6. A combined needle guard and latch opener for overseaming and likemachines having a body provided with a needle passage substantiallyvertical when the device is in position, and two opposite, upwardprolongations, one having an inner guiding face inclined downwardly tosaid needle passage and extending laterally therebeyond in oppositedirections, and the other prolongation extending above the first andhaving its upper face terminating at its inner edge in a latch openerand at its outer edge in a hook, the end whereof is at the opposite sideof said needle passage from said latch opener.

7. A combined needle guard and latch opener for overseaming and likemachines having a body provided with a needle passage, said body beingtransversely and clownwardly grooved substantially axially of saidneedle passage, one wall of said groove being provided at one edge wit-ha latch opener and at the opposite edge with a needle guarding hookforming a prolongation of said wall, the said hook and wall extendingmore than 180 about said needle passage.

8. A needle guarding device for overseaming and like machines having alengthwise needle passage and a forked formation at the entrancethereof, one wall of said formation having a needle guiding face leadingto the entrance to said passage, and the other wall having a needleguarding hook, said latter wall and hook extending more than 180circumferentially of said passage.

9. A crochet or overseaming machine comprising in combination stitchforming mechanism including a movable thread manipulating hook deviceand a sewing needle, and a needle guard body on the opposite side of theneedle from said hook device and having a passage for the said needle,said guard having an overhanging part extending close to and past thatside of the said needle that is the more remote from the retractedposition of said hook device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. DRUMHELLER. l Vitnesses MARY A. POWELL, W. M. 'VVHARFIELD.

Copies of this patent 'may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

